Awards of Excellence
This award recognizes remarkable Mexican Americans, Chicano/a/e/x, and Latino/a/e/x individuals or groups who have demonstrated utmost artistic excellence or distinguished service, leadership, and dedication to the cultural arts of Austin, TX. Established in 2009, the full list of past award recipients may be viewed farther down on this page.
2025 Awardees
Congratulations to our 2025 Awardees! The awardees will be honored in a ceremony at the Long Center on June 28th. The ceremony is by invitation only, and the public is encouraged to watch the livestream of the event on Facebook at @ESBMACC.
From a very young age, Courtney Enriquez’s mother always encouraged her to participate in dance, drawing and painting, along with instilling the importance of always giving back to the community. Courtney is a native of Austin, Texas and Austin High School Maroon. With renowned local Artists Rey Gaytan and Sam Coronado as her mentors, winning the “Gold Key” Scholastic Award was when she felt the confidence she needed to continue to pursuing art. Her first "solo exhibition" was in 1997, and in 1998 City of Austin Arts in Public Places commissioned her for a mural at the Dove Springs Recreation Center. Juan in a Million Restaurant has also commissioned her to create murals in both the inside and outside of their restaurant. A wife, proud mom of three boys and four grandchildren, her work is inspired by cultural, spiritual and lifetime memories and experiences. This July Courtney will have her second "solo exhibition" of mixed media artworks with interpretations inspired by the traditional 100 year old Loteria game of chance, that will take place at the La Pena Gallery on Congress Avenue.
Claudia Chapa is an award-winning performer, curator, and Latine cultural advocate. She studied vocal performance at the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin. As a mezzo-soprano, she has performed with Dallas Opera, Virginia Opera, San Diego Opera and St. Petersburg Opera. In 2017, she made her Carnegie Hall debut as the mezzo soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with Distinguished Concert International New York. In 2022, Austin Opera appointed her as their inaugural Associate Director of Artistic Administration and Curator of Hispanic and Latinx programming. She spearheads programming in Spanish and develops initiatives to increase Latine communities’ access to opera. She received the prestigious Silverman Award, the Monica & Roger McNeill Award and is a grant recipient from the Olga Forrai Foundation. Her dedication to cultural representation in opera continues as the founder of the Latine Opera Alliance, a diverse group of Latine-identifying opera singers, creatives, and administrators striving to uplift and advocate for equity and representation in opera. Recent highlights include Claudia recording Handel’s Messiah with the Royal Philharmonic at the famed Abbey Roads Studios.
Walter Guzman is the founder and director of the local Guzmán Ballet Folklórico dance group. Under his leadership, students regularly perform both locally and internationally, with appearances in China, Mexico, France, Poland, Spain, Indonesia, South Korea, and most recently, Japan. These experiences allow young dancers to learn from other cultures while proudly promoting Mexican traditions. This year, he is organizing a Mexican festival in Indonesia, bringing together multiple folklórico groups, mariachi musicians, and cooks to share their vibrant heritage. Walter’s mission is to ensure that the next generation continues to embrace and celebrate the richness of Mexican culture.
Jesus “Chuy” Chacon is the Artistic Director at Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico de Texas in Austin, Texas since 1994. He is responsible for broadening the company's offerings by researching new regions in Mexico and integrating them into the performances. He oversees the School of Dance, ensuring that instruction aligns with the company's mission. In 2007, he became the Texas representative to the Asociación Nacional de Maestros de Danza Popular Mexicana, the first U.S.-based instructor to be recognized by the Association. He was selected to represent the Mexican Consulate in Austin at the 2nd Symposium of the “Mexican Artist Abroad”, sponsored by the Foreign Affairs Office in Mexico City. He has been invited as a judge at several folklorico dance competitions in Mexico and the USA. In 2024, he received the State of Texas and the Austin City Proclamation for 30 years as Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico de Texas’ Artistic Director.
Long-time Texas broadcaster Fred Cantu is often called a “local icon” after spending 45 years on the air in Austin. He came to Austin in the 1980s where he would bring Tejano Hits to local airwaves in 1986. The format continues to this day. Cantu earned his degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Texas and made the switch to television news in 1990 and spent the last 23 years with KEYE-TV as an anchor and reporter for CBS Austin. And notably he was the first anchor for their sister station Telemundo Austin when it launched in 2009. Fred Cantu retired on March 31st wrapping up 53 years in broadcasting.
In 2004 Mr. Llanes received the Webber Foundation Grant to create “Learning & Living with Mother Earth”, a comprehensive Arts Environmental Awareness program and performance that utilized poetry, music, dance and children’s workshops. His program delivered an Environmental Justice message through Public Service Announcements and a theatrical presentation, sponsored by PODER. Daniel is a community organizer, he currently serves as the Chair of the River Bluff Neighborhood Association, Coordinator of Govalle/Johnston Terrace Neighborhood Contact Team, a community member of PODER (People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources), the Austin Raza RoundTable and on the executive committee of the Austin Neighborhoods Council. Mr. Llanes is also a practitioner of traditional Mezo-American folk medicine, a father, an environmental and community organizer, prolific writer, choreographer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, and his original offerings are produced live in a variety of venues ranging from one man shows and exhibits to ensemble multi-disciplinary productions.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Nomination Categories
As human beings with many talents, the work of those in our community may span more than one category. In those cases, the award review committee will determine final placement of the nominee in the award category that best reflects an individual's work, contributions, and impact.
Emerging Artist
Those who have demonstrated artistic excellence as a beginner to mid-career artist of any age (but may also include youth).
The Arts
Those currently working as a professional artist including: visual arts, dance, music, theater, radio, TV, film, performing arts, and history. Know a great arts administrator? Consider the Service Award category instead.
Service
Those who have demonstrated outstanding service as a volunteer, employee, or professional in arts administration, community-based organizations, and more in the cultural arts.
Arts Educator
Those who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment in education in our community in the cultural arts.
Lifetime Achievement
Those who have demonstrated a lifetime of passion and dedication to the cultural arts. Their career/ contributions often span 30+ years.
Posthumous Award
Those who in their lifetime made a significant contribution to the cultural arts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ'S)
- How are the MACC Awardees selected?
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The MACC has an award review committee made up of previous Awards of Excellence winners and community members who represent diverse backgrounds, ages, experience in various art forms, occupations, and community involvement.
Panelists do not receive the list of nominees until after the nomination process is closed, to preserve the integrity of the process.
- Are nominations accepted past the deadline of March 23?
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The short answer is no, no nominations will be accepted after March 23, 2025.
In 2024, the nomination deadline was extended due to receiving a very low amount of submissions by the original deadline. At least a minimum of 40 submissions must be received in order to have a fair and equitable review process by the panelists. We hope to reach 40 nominations by March 23 so there will be no need to extend the deadline in 2025.
- Can I nominate anyone?
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Nominations are open to everyone except City of Austin employees and officials. City of Austin employees and officials cannot nominate NOR be nominated. These awards are determined by the community- we have open nominations from January to March, and then our awards review committee reviews them and scores them! We encourage you to send in a nomination! We ask you to limit your number of nominations to 5 total. Also make sure that the person you are nominated has not received an award before- the full list of winners to date is on this webpage.
- Does the Award come with a prize?
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Award winners are invited to the award ceremony with their invited guests, and their names will be carved into the Petalos sculpture at the MACC- see bottom of this page for more info about Petalos. There is no monetary prize.
- Who determines the award category?
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As human beings with many talents, the work of those in our community may span more than one category. In those cases, the award review committee will determine final placement of the nominee in the award category that best reflects an individual's work, contributions, and impact.
- Is the nomination form the only way to nominate someone?
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The ESB MACC will accommodate anyone who is unable to fill out the nomination form on a computer or smart phone. Please call or email Estrella de Leon at 512-974-3786 or estrella.deleon@austintexas.gov for assistance.
Past Awards of Excellence Recipients: 2009-2024
2024
Ana Barajas, Emerging Artist
Mauricio Callejas, Arts
Velia Sanchez Ruiz, Service
Adolph Ortiz, Arts Educator
Dolores Carrillo Garcia, Lifetime Achievement
Gilberto Cardenas, Lifetime Achievement
Marcelo Hernandez Tafoya, Lifetime Achievement (Posthumous)
Maria Emilia Martin, Lifetime Achievement (Posthumous)
VIEW 2024 Awards of Excellence Ceremony
2023
Jacqueline Olivier - Emerging Artist
Serena Tijerina - Emerging Artist
Raul Garza – The Arts
Roj Rodriguez – The Arts
Bertha Rendon Delgado - Service
Monica Araoz- Arts Educator
Zita V. Vázquez – Arts Educator
Paul Saldaña- Lifetime Achievement
Dr. Roén Salinas – Lifetime Achievement
Yolanda Sanchez – Lifetime Achievement
Farah Rivera – Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Henry Gonzalez – Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
VIEW 2023 Awards of Excellence Ceremony
2021
Ana Maciel, Service
Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, Service
Bobbie Garza-Hernandez, Lifetime Achievement
Dr. Angela Valenzuela, Lifetime Achievement
Jose Pasco, Emerging Artist
Fany Macias, Emerging Artist
Lydia Cdebaca Cruz, Arts Educator
Dr. Tracey Flores, Arts Educator
Mery Godigna-Collet, The Arts
Federico Archuleta, The Arts
VIEW 2021 Awards of Excellence Ceremony
2019
John Estrada, Emerging Artist
Leticia Urieta, Arts Educator
Ender Martos, Visual Art
Ire'ne Lara Silva, Literary Art
Carrie Rodriguez, Music
Luis Guerra, Lifetime Achievement
2018
Lesly Reynaga, Emerging Artist
Dr. Emilio Zamora, Service
Nancy Flores, Media Arts
Fidencio Duran, Visual Arts
Ruben Ramos, Music
Martha P. Cotera, Lifetime Achievement
2017
Tomas Salas, The Arts
Edgar Yepez, Arts Educator
Hector Miranda, Emerging Artist
Gloria Mata-Pennington, Lifetime Achievement
Enrique Cruz, Patronage
Karla Saldana, Service
Arturo Lomas Garza, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
2016
Liliana Wilson, Visual Arts
Tomas Medina, Music
Toni Bravo, Dance
Hector Galán, Film
Rupert and JoAnn Reyes, Theater
Michael Anthony Garcia, Multidisciplinary
Nora Comstock, Patronage
Council Member Renteria, Service
Gerardo Arellano, Emerging Artist
Roberto Mendoza, Arts Education
Sylvia Orozco, Lifetime Achievement
2015
Jaime Salvador Castillo, Emerging Artist
Paloma Mayorga, Emerging Artist
Mario José Troncoso, Emerging Artist
Frank Rodriguez, Service
Rene Renteria, Service
Raul Ramirez, Service
Dr. Andrés Tijerina, Lifetime Achievement
2014
Ezekiel “Zeke” Robert Castro, Lifetime Achievement
Eugenio del Bosque, Service
Mary Gonzalez-Reyna, Music
Rodolfo “Rudy” Mendez, Theater & Dance
Cynthia Pérez, Service
Ishmael Soto, Visual Arts
José Treviño, Visual Arts
Tiarra Girls, Emerging Artist
Telemundo Austin, Patronage
Lonnie Guerrero, Sr., Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Americo Paredes, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Ben Moncivais, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Margarita Munoz Simon, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
2012
Claudia Zapata, Service
Alfredo Estrada, Patronage
Anthony Ortiz Jr., Emerging Artist
Austin Latino Theater Alliance, Arts
Raul Valdez, Lifetime Achievement
Manuel “Cowboy” Donley, Lifetime Achievement
Johnny Degollado, Lifetime Achievement
2011
Latinitas, Service
Gavin Garcia, Patronage
Luis Ordaz, Emerging Artist
Sam Z. Coronado, Arts
Maria F. Salinas, Lifetime Achievement
2009
Simon Orta, Service
About Pétalos
Robert Mezquiti's Pétalos is a permanent art installation at the ESB-MACC that serves as an award wall in which members of the Mexican-American Community are honored. Pétalos is a series of petals, each representing an equal part of our cultural fabric. Each individual petal honors a member of our community who has contributed significantly through service or art and holds a place for those who will continue to shape our culture in the future. Pétalos embodies the potential of infinity- only possible through the collection of continuous equal parts.
